For Immediate Release

May 6, 2022

Saanichton, B.C. - The British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) is excited to announce the general managers for the 2022-23 season.

The BCEHL Integrated general managers oversee the operation for the teams in the U18 AAA, U17 AAA and U15 AAA leagues, while the Female U18 AAA general managers oversee their respective Female U18 AAA team.

Cariboo Cougars & Northern Capitals

Trevor Sprague (7th season)

Trevor Sprague will oversee both the Integrated and Female U18 AAA teams in Northern B.C. Sprague has been involved in hockey in the north for over 30 years and has spent the last 15 years working with teams in the BCEHL. He is entering his seventh season as the general manager of the Cariboo Cougars and third as the general manager of the Northern Capitals. Sprague coached in Prince George for over 20 years before moving to the management side of the game.

During his coaching and management career Sprague has won two provincial titles with the Cariboo Cougars’ U18 AAA team. Sprague is also a key driver behind the annual BC Hockey Winter Classic event that is held in Northern B.C. each winter.

Fraser Valley Rush & Greater Vancouver Canadians

Al Wozney (11th season)

Alain Wozney will oversee both an Integrated and Female U18 AAA team. Wozney is entering his 10th season working in the BCEHL and his 9th with the Fraser Valley Rush program, serving as the program’s general manager since the 2014-15 season. He will also take on the role of general manager with the Greater Vancouver Canadians program for his second season. He last oversaw the Canadians in this role during the 2013-14 season. Wozney has over 40 years of experience working and playing in the minor hockey system in B.C.

Wozney played his minor hockey with Burnaby Winter Club before progressing to Junior A and playing with the Burnaby Bluehawks. He then attended the Memorial University of Newfoundland, studying Psychology and Humanities. He is now self-employed and works in hockey management.

Fraser Valley Thunderbirds

Darrin Ponak (11th season)

Darrin Ponak is entering his 11th season as the general manager of the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds, joining the program in 2012. The Abbotsford native previously held the role of Pee Wee director with Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association for four seasons from 2008-2012.

Ponak obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education/Geography from Trinity Western University while also playing for their men’s hockey team. He later obtained both his Bachelor of Education and Diploma in Special Education from the University of British Columbia and his Master’s in Administration from San Diego State University. He currently works as a teacher in the Lower Mainland.

Fraser Valley Thunderbirds

Troy Stordy (1st season)

Troy Stordy is entering his first season in the BCEHL. He will split the general manager duties with Darrin Ponak. Stordy has worked as the Vice President of Mission Minor Hockey Association since 2010. He has also served as the development director and a coach in the association since he joined MMHA in 2010.

Stordy, who currently lives in Mission, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Away from the rink Stordy currently works as a Correctional

Program Officer.

Greater Vancouver Comets

Shannon Morris-Reade (1st season)

Shannon Morris-Reade has taken on the role of general manager for the 2022-23 season after spending the previous three seasons behind the bench of the Greater Vancouver Comets’ program as an assistant coach.

Morris-Reade, who calls Port Coquitlam home, earned her Bachelor of Sciences degree at Lindenwood University where she also played for the school’s Division 1 women’s hockey program. She works full-time as a Cardiology Technologist.

North Island Silvertips

Lance Vaillancourt (1st season)

Lance Vaillancourt is entering his first season as general manager of the North Island Silvertips program. Previously, Vaillancourt was the Associate Coach & Hockey Operations Manager for the South Zone Knights U18 Tier 1 team. He has also performed various coaching roles with Penticton Minor Hockey at all levels within the association. Vaillancourt brings over 35 years of experience within minor hockey to the Silvertips.

In addition to his work within minor hockey in B.C., Vaillancourt was also a linesman within BC Hockey and worked as a linesman in the BCHL. Away from the rink he works as a civil servant with the Federal Government.

Okanagan Rockets

Steve Smith (1st season)

Steve Smith is embarking on his first season as a general manager in the BCEHL. Smith also serves as the Executive Director of Kelowna Minor Hockey Association, a role he has held since 2017. Prior to this he was the Division Director for Kelowna Minor Hockey Association from 2010-17, and a coach in the association from 2008-17 as well.

The Kelowna native has compiled over 17 years of experience working in minor hockey in Kelowna.

South Island Royals

Jason Leslie (1st season)

Jason Leslie is entering his first year as the general manager of the South Island Royals program. The Princeton native has previously worked as the dry land coach with Victoria Racquet Club’s U9, U11 and U13 teams.

Leslie completed his Bachelor of Education with a Major in Physical Education at the University of Victoria and is currently completing his Master in High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership at the University of British Columbia. Leslie also coaches multiple baseball teams and is a full-time trades teacher at Spectrum Community Secondary School.

Thompson Blazers

Jan Antons (4th season)

Jan Antons is embarking on his sixth year working within the BCEHL and fourth year as the Thompson Blazers’ General Manager. Antons has 15 years of experience working in hockey. During that time, he also served as the equipment manager of Team Canada’s Para Hockey team at the 2013 World Championships and the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi.

Antons earned his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary’s Haskanye School of Business.

Thompson-Okanagan Lakers

Erin West (1st season)

Erin West is entering her third season as a part of the BCEHL and first as the general manager of the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers. The Salmon Arm native has compiled over 16 years of experience volunteering within various hockey associations in various roles including as a team manager, safety person and risk manager.

West has earned a Business Administration Diploma, Bookkeeping Certification from Okanagan University College and a Personal Financial Services Advice certification from the Canadian Securities Institute. She is a full-time financial advisor.

Valley West Giants

Jamie Fiset (5th season)

Jamie Fiset is entering his fifth year in the BCEHL as general manager with the Valley West Giants and brings an additional eight years of experience working in minor hockey previously. He has been involved with BC Hockey’s Program of Excellence including as the head coach of Team BC at the 2016 WHL Cup.

Fiset was a board member with Langley Minor Hockey Association from 2010-14. Away from the rink Fiset is a teacher, he completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia before earning his Master of Arts at Royal Roads University.

Vancouver Island Seals

Katrina Hawkins (1st season)

Katrina Hawkins is entering her first season as a general manger in the BCEHL as she takes the reigns of the Vancouver Island Seals. Hawkins comes to the Seals after spending last season as the head coach of the North Island Impact Female U18 A team. She brings over five years of experience working throughout female hockey where she has held positions with Powell River Female Hockey and the Nanaimo Islanders Female Hockey Association, where she still serves as President of the Board of Directors.

Hawkins received a Bachelor of International Business with a minor in Environmental Policy from Chatham University where she also played on the softball team. Away from the rink Hawkins is a full-time accountant.

Vancouver North East Chiefs

Greg Harding (6th season)

Greg Harding is entering his sixth season with the Vancouver NE Chiefs program and his fourth as the general manager of the program. The Surrey, B.C. native has been involved in minor hockey for 20 years, previously assuming roles with the Richmond Sockeyes of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and Langley Minor Hockey Association.

Harding played his minor hockey at Burnaby Winter Club and Langley Minor Hockey Association before going on to play for the Delta Ice Hawks, Queens Park Pirates and Richmond Sockeyes of the PJHL. Harding also works full-time with BC Hydro.

Vancouver North West Hawks

Matt Samson (1st season)

Matt Samson joins the Vancouver NW Hawks with over 10 years of coaching and management experience in minor and junior hockey. He most recently worked as the head coach and general manager of the North Vancouver Wolf Pack of the PJHL from 2018-22. During that time span he also worked as the head coach of the Squamish A1 U13 team.

The Squamish, B.C. native works in hockey coaching and development full-time. He played for the Buffalo State College men’s hockey team where he also obtained a Bachelor Degree in Communications.

News

BCEHL WEEKEND UPDATE - JANUARY 27-29

BCEHL WEEKEND UPDATE - JANUARY 18-23

BCEHL WEEKEND UPDATE - JANUARY 13-15

BCEHL NOW ACCEPTING GM APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2023-24 SEASON

BCEHL PLAYERS OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2022

BCEHL WEEKEND UPDATE - JANUARY 6-9